Posted on 10/01/2004 11:54:21 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
IN ORDER for the creeping dynamics of the race for the presidency to change as a result of the first presidential debate, two things had to happen: President Bush had to commit a major gaff and Democratic challenger Senator Kerry had to hit a home run. Neither happened. Still, this first debate offered an opportunity--as a result of the fact that the two participants performed so well--a real contrast between the candidates.
For all the harping before the first of the three scheduled debates, about lighting, about the agreed upon format--which is too restricting and does not allow for spontaneity or any kind of the give and take of a "real" debate--one must admit to the single virtue of last night's debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry in Coral Gables, Florida: it allowed the audience to judge the candidates more on message than on performance.
In broad terms, the differences between the candidates can be boiled down to a few key statements during the hour and thirty minute exchange.
By coin toss, Senator Kerry was given the opening question and statement, while President Bush was allowed the final closing remarks. The topic of tonight's debate was Foreign Policy.
Senator Kerry's main message is that Iraq constitutes the "wrong war, in the wrong place, at the wrong time." Though he did not repeat these words, his answers to questions regarding Iraq and the War on Terror made clear that he continues his line of argument that Iraq was a "diversion" from the primary target of the War on Terror, Osama Bin Laden. He further says while he would not advocate pulling out of Iraq pre-maturely, that he has a plan that will effectively get new allies actively involved in the burden of Iraq so that the U.S. does not have to continue to shoulder "90% of the casualties and 90% of the cost." Central to Mr. Kerry's message tonight was that diplomacy ought to be formost in America's efforts to secure itself against the dangers of terrorism.
For his part, Mr. Bush continues to argue the message that he has been repeating since 9/11: that Iraq is a central front in the War on Terror, that America and the world are better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, and that the coalition forces fighting in Iraq are engaged in a noble and worthy cause for Iraq, for America, and for the world. In answer to Senator Kerry's opening statement, Presidant Bush said that 9/11 changed how America must look at the world, that 75% of the leadership of Al Queda had been captured or killed, that the Taliban has been removed from power in Afghanistan, that Saddam Hussein has been captured, and that, as a result of American leadership in the War on Terror, Libya, a former candidate for admission to the "axis of evil" has begun to disarm.
President Bush defended his administration by saying "I know how to lead. Not everybody agrees with the decisions I've made, but people understand where I stand. We have a solemn duty to defeat the ideology of hate." He went on to say that "we must never waiver" in the war on terror, that while the job is "tough," a "free Iraq is a major defeat to terrorism." Finally, at the end of his opening statement, the President said, "If we lose our will, we lose the war." Later, in answer to the moderator's direct question regarding whether the war in Iraq and on Terror was "worth it" in terms of casualties, President Bush said "yes."
Over the course of the evening, Mr. Kerry said that there was no connection between Iraq and the War on Terror. Furthermore, he argued that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq (a centerpiece of the Bush Administration's argument for war). He said that the President did not engage the U.N. and sanctions against Iraq long enough before "rushing" to war and that Mr. Bush pursued his policy without exhausting diplomatic measures that, in Kerry's estimation, would have successfully put Saddam Hussein "in a box" and led to a successful containment of the threat of Iraq.
Beyond these broad differences between the two candidates, there were a few statements by either candidate that deserve comment. Each serves to illustrate the core philosophy driving each of the candidates and, I think, nicely illustrates the differences between the two.
President Bush continues to argue that the cause of liberty is the worthy cause for the twenty-first century. Bush's position has been that humankind has, by right, liberty; that the condition of liberty is enobling, and that the opportunity for liberty is a cause worth fighting and dying for. Bush said, "I believe in the transformational power of liberty. We've climbed the mighty mountain. And I've seen the valley below. And it is the valley of peace."
Senator John Kerry said, "I know what it's like" to be in a life and death struggle in war. "Don't confuse the warriors with the war." Kerry went on to say that the soldiers' personal struggle may be honored even if the cause for which they fight is mistaken.
These two statements perhaps offer the starkest difference between the two candidates.
President Bush's answers regarding Foreign Policy consistently reference two things: the realities of the post 9/11 world, and philosophy deeply rooted in the undertanding expressed by the framers of the U.S. constitution, regarding the univeral right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Mr. Bush consistently frames his answers in terms of his understanding of how that philosophy presents itself in the real world and says, in the face of questions about his decisions after 9/11: "We need certainty." At the same time, while we may need to "change tactics," he says, we should never "change beliefs."
In answer to the final question of the debate, however, Senator Kerry offers a stark contrast and a clear choice.
The moderator asks, "What do you think is the single-most important threat facing the next presidency?"
Kerry answers: "Nuclear Proliferation."
He then goes on to criticize the president's handling of North Korea and Iran.
But, what must be noticed is that his two key answers, to the major questions of the night, were answered not in present world terms but in Cold World terms.
Kerry answered the question regarding the worthiness of the Iraqi War in Vietnam terms: "do not confuse the warrior with the war." And he answered the present threat question with Cold War terms: "Nuclear proliferation."
On the first count, Kerry is wrong logically--How can you ask any man to be the last man to die for a mistake?
I.E. If the Iraq War is the "wrong war, at the wrong time, in the wrong place," then how can Kerry defend that those who fight and die to defend democracy in Iraq are engaged in a noble cause?
Secondly, if the Vietnam War was itself the "wrong war, at the wrong time, in the wrong place," then how can Mr. Kerry say genuinely during the debate that he--having protested the war vociferously once he returned from his four month tour--"defended this country as a young man in war" and that he will do so "as president"? According to his senate testimony in 1971, his participation in the Vietnam War was expressly not a defense of the United States or anything that it stands for.
If the debate tonight does nothing to change the dynamics of the race for the presidency it will be because there were no major mistakes in terms of the candidates' performances. But, for thinking Americans, one thing should be clear: Mr. Bush believes what he believes and acts accordingly.
Mr. Kerry, on the other hand, says what he thinks will impress his electorate.
In terms of performance, then, tonight's debate score is a cool tie.
In terms of message, on the other hand, tonight's debate score is, easily:
Bush 1, Kerry 0.
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This author can be reached at: gregorbo@peoplepc.com
Ridiculous. Bush actually won, though not rhetorically. He showed he is resolute--and people will remember this. Kerry scored no knockout--and he had to. Bush retained the public's respect by not making any major blunder--so the dynamics of this race won't change, whether or not Kerry is a smooth debater. He had to offer something besides confused positions on Iraq. This he failed to do.
+Denies funding to suicide bombers invading Israel....
+Denied funding of WMD in Libya and Syria.
Occupying Iraq puts strategic pressure on rouge terrorist loving regimes like the French-inspired Mullah's of Iran or the Bathist's of Syria.
Peace in modern times requires reorganization that Jews and Christians must be respected by Muslims and Islam or that the alternative is literally populations against one another; a far reaching consequence that most socialists can not deduce with their limited reality based analytical skills.
I doubt Bush or his advisors would say he "won" the debate.
But he certainly didn't hand the election to Kerry either.
All this handwringing only helps inflate Kerry's wobbly supporters.
A lot of FR posters remind me of sports fans.
Ping to myself bump.
And anyone who hasn't been following the election or Kerry, will begin to like him less and less as they watch him in the other debates. The man is smarmy.
Kerry believes he can finesse his answers and fool the rubes.
He wants U.N. run foreign policy, period.
The Iraq argument about right or wrong is a diversion. Let both candidates discuss how to leave Iraq as a viable country. Neither has a clue.
This isn't Bush's war this is the world's opportunity to make the world safer and discourage terrorism.
It's too bad so many European countries don't see that a better future for all people lies in the path President Bush has taken.
Instead of fighting liberty they should be standing with us. Their slide into socialism prevents clear thinking.
But those living under oppression are taking this opportunity, provided by President Bush and our allies, to push for freedoms.
Saudi women prepare to run for public office (but will women be allowed to vote?)
Their = they're
scratch that last post - time for a break
The MSM was neutral until they started reading conservative bloggers....FR a leading culprit.
I thought Bush won hands down also.
I agree, I thought we had lost the debate after listening to folks from here. What happened here that night? A troll infestation?
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